Why You Should Take Easier Classes When Studying Abroad

When studying abroad in a new country, you have many decisions to make. Where do you want to live? Where do you want to visit? What should you pack? These questions require research and planning and are all important. But there is one decision that is simple: take easy classes when studying abroad. This decision will allow you to travel more and learn more. (Yes, I said learn more.) And taking easy classes won’t affect your career in any way. Still need convincing? Read on.

Travel More When Studying Abroad

Have you ever had to turn down a fun night out to study? Now imagine turning down a trip to Paris or Rome to stay at home with your school books. Sounds ridiculous, right? Well, that is exactly what you may encounter while living abroad. Taking easy classes will allow you to have more free time, and if there is one time when you will appreciate those extra hours, it is while living abroad. Taking classes that require little study time (an American film class or a beginner language course) will allow you to plan trips in advance without worrying about a looming mid-term.

Learn More

It seems counter-intuitive, but taking easy courses will actually allow you to learn more. The important piece of information to remember is that living abroad is the learning experience, not your classes. Just going to school in a foreign country is enough to make your brain hurt. You are dealing with a different language, a different culture, and a different learning environment. Don’t add a course in quantum mechanics to your plate. The less you are worried about school, the more you can go out and put yourself in real-life learning situations. Talk to those people at the coffee shop. Join that hiking group. Learn about the people you meet and the country you are living in, because that is why you decided to study abroad in the first place.

Look Smart

Studying abroad looks great on a resume. It shows that you are open to new experiences and new people. It sets you apart from the masses, and it gives you a great talking point in an interview. Employers love asking about your foreign experience. No matter where or what you studied, they are interested in the places you visited and the people you met. Know what they are not interested in? What classes you took. In fact, you won’t look very good if you don’t have daring stories of travel and adventure. “What was that you did while oversees? You spent every night in your room studying? Boring!” Your resume will look wonderful, whether you took Engineering or Film Studies, so don’t worry. Take the easy course.

Employers and friends alike will want to hear stories about your time abroad, so make sure you don’t waste this opportunity. Go out and travel. Frequent the local haunts and meet people. Improve your language skills. See what it is like to be a citizen of that country. When it is all said and done, you will still make a splash in the job market. To accomplish all this, just remember: take easy classes while studying abroad and embrace everything the foreign experience offers.

About Author: Amanda Perkins writes and edits the Study Abroad website ClassAbroad.com. She enjoys travelling, learning, and writing. She recently published a piece on Law Study Abroad.